Sumo wrestling for Jesus, religious motocross stunts and a dose of Christian testosterone. That's a sampling of the lineup this weekend as a trio of large-scale Christian events descends upon Anaheim and Los Angeles. The harmonic convergence of rallies -- the three-day Harvest Crusade at Angel Stadium, a two-day Promise Keepers conference at Arrowhead Pond and the daylong Festival Bajo el Sol at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum -- will showcase some of Christianity's top preachers and musicians.

Promise Keepers, the Christian revival movement for men, has reported a steep drop in attendance for its 1998 rallies, compared with the previous three years. The organization, based in Denver, estimates that 454,000 men attended 19 events at U.S. stadiums and arenas in the 12 months ended Oct. 10. For the same period a year ago, it listed 638,000 at 19 conferences, excluding the hundreds of thousands who attended a prayer meeting on the Washington Mall last October.

At a rally last month at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark., thunderbolts and heavy rain forced Promise Keepers, an evangelistic men's ministry, to temporarily evacuate 20,000 men from their outdoor seats. The service resumed when the storm passed. Such weather-related interruptions have been rare for Promise Keepers for nearly a decade because the organization has stopped holding most of its gatherings at outdoor stadiums.

Promise Keepers, the Christian men's organization, said it will recall about 315 laid-off staff members thanks to a surge in donations. The Denver-based group said churches and individuals donated more than $4 million last month to keep Promise Keepers afloat after it decided to stop charging $60 for admission to stadium events that draw thousands each year. The $96 million-a-year organization went to an all-volunteer staff when it decided to drop the fee.

The ever-expanding Promise Keepers movement of Christian men is inviting women to be full participants in its current series of spiritual rallies--as long as they are members of the clergy. Not many female pastors are expected, however, among the more than 3,600 ministers registered for the regional clergy conference Thursday at the San Diego Sports Arena. The daylong, free conference is the third of nine nationwide in which pastors are being urged to support men's ministries in their churches.

Bill McCartney has announced his resignation as president of Promise Keepers so he can continue to care for his ill wife. The resignation of McCartney, who founded the international men's ministry 13 years ago, is effective Oct. 1. McCartney's wife, Lyndi, suffers from a severe respiratory illness, and he had been on a board-approved leave of absence because of her condition. He eventually plans to pursue "other ministry interests," the organization said in a statement.

The all-men evangelical movement Promise Keepers will hold a worship service at the South Coast Fellowship on Friday to kick off a two-day conference. Founded by former University of Colorado football Coach Bill McCartney, the group attracted 1.1 million men to rallies in sports stadiums across the country last year. But in Ventura, the Promise Keepers will break with their tradition by meeting in a church rather than a stadium, and they will allow women and children to participate.

Bill McCartney has announced his resignation as president of Promise Keepers so he can continue to care for his ill wife. The resignation of McCartney, who founded the international men's ministry 13 years ago, is effective Oct. 1. McCartney's wife, Lyndi, suffers from a severe respiratory illness, and he had been on a board-approved leave of absence because of her condition. He eventually plans to pursue "other ministry interests," the organization said in a statement.

Promise Keepers, the Christian men's movement that has drawn 5 million often-tearful males to outdoor stadiums and sports arenas over the last 12 years, is launching a rite-of-passage offshoot for teenage boys. Hoping to capture what organizers fear could be a lost generation of evangelical Christians, "Passage" uses Christian rock bands, hip-hop artists, extreme sports exhibitions, testimonials and scores of fast-paced videos in an attempt to reconnect teenagers with their faith and families.

October 21, 2001 | MONTE MORIN and WILLIAM LOBDELL, TIMES STAFF WRITERS

Prayers for the leaders of a nation in crisis and its fighting men were recurring themes at a gathering Saturday in Anaheim of Promise Keepers, the Christian organization that travels the country exhorting men to find God and become better fathers and husbands. While much of its rousing evangelical message and emotional music was similar to that of past conferences, Promise Keepers organizers and speakers this weekend spoke more frequently of patriotism and national service.

Promise Keepers, the international men's movement, brings its conference to Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim on Oct. 19 and 20. Prayers for the nation will be said during the free conference. The event is expected to draw thousands of men for encouragement, accountability and solid biblical principles for becoming better husbands, fathers, friends and co-workers. Registration remains open. (800) 888-7595 or register online at http://www.promisekeepers.org. Special Events * St.

Women of Faith, which stages women-only Christian inspirational rallies, has announced attendance for 2000 that surpassed that of its older men-only counterpart, Denver-based Promise Keepers. Women of Faith, launched in 1996, reported 359,000 women registered at arenas in 24 cities this year, compared with 194,500 men in 16 cities for Promise Keepers rallies. The pattern is expected to continue in 2001. Women of Faith has scheduled events in 27 cities, Promise Keepers in 18.

February 7, 1999 | KENNETH R. WEISS, Kenneth R. Weiss is an education writer for The Times

For the last four decades, the state of California has touted higher education as the great equalizer: For the poor, a door to the world of ideas and a better life; for late-bloomers, a sense of purpose and direction; for smart kids, a push toward the boundaries of discovery. We promised that dream to anyone who wanted to pursue it, no matter their race or ethnic background. But with a new century approaching, California is on the verge of breaking that promise.

Promise Keepers, the Christian revival movement for men, has reported a steep drop in attendance for its 1998 rallies, compared with the previous three years. The organization, based in Denver, estimates that 454,000 men attended 19 events at U.S. stadiums and arenas in the 12 months ended Oct. 10. For the same period a year ago, it listed 638,000 at 19 conferences, excluding the hundreds of thousands who attended a prayer meeting on the Washington Mall last October.

The three men gathered at the window table blend in with the morning Starbucks crowd--the harried moms fresh from carpool duty, the busy execs with cell phones glued to their ears, the college students balancing backpacks and cappuccinos. The tall man wears a suit, carries a briefcase, strides in with the air of a man in a hurry. He is greeted by a handshake from a small man with glasses and thinning hair pulled into a ponytail at the nape of his neck.